The tweens in my life wouldn’t care about decor as long as there are video games available. That said, I just painted our basement a nice deep green/gray/blue and added fun throw pillows, a colorful rug, and IKEA paper lanterns for lighting. We also have the more casual art down there. It’s cozy and comfortable for adults, but kids think it’s “fun.”

I wouldn’t paper the ceiling. I bet removing that wallpaper border would help the ceiling seem higher.

Thank you!  Those are great ideas!

as for the rest of the decor, how committed are you to keeping any of it? you asked how to make it more appealing to teenagers, and the honest answer is that I doubt a single thing in there is going to be considered cool by them. sorry, just being honest! so... what do you need to keep in that room? are you willing to replace everything, or do you need us to help you figure out how to work with some of the furnishings?

basements are casual hangouts and I feel like it's fine to have some outdated furniture. So, how "updated" do you want to bring this place? partly? fully?

also, are you trying to make it appealing to just teenagers, or to you as well? what is your style?

Appeal to teenagers and mom and dad. I can get rid of everything but the couches (ouch).

My style is electic, but if I had to pin it down it would be minimalistic industrial. Is there such a thing?

id start by getting the room emptied out, painting the ceiling a flat or eggshell, replacing the light fixtures, remove the boarder and paint the room a neutral color that can grow with the space. I let the colors come from rugs and artwork.

What is happening around the corner?

I know couches like that can be really comfortable and practical. since this is just a basement hangout space, I think it's ok for it to not be showroom perfect.

I think as long as you remove all of the other furnishings in that room, you can work with the couches. I'd aim for a kind of boho look. I think it would work with the brown leather while being in keeping with the eclectic look you said you prefer.

I love the how the black and white accents look against the brown leather here:

Or in this case, navy and white:

Here is a basement where they have similar berber carpet and brown wood trim, like yours. I love how they used mostly vintage pieces here.

I really love the black and white rugs in he examples above, but if you think that might not be as practical for a room with teens, consider something like this:

OR, a family friendly washable brand, like Ruggables:

I forgot to mention one other thing -- if you're keeping the sports equipment, create two zones in there. See if you can arrange the space so the two sofas form an L in front of the TV, and tuck the sports equipment over at the opposite end of the room.

Remove all the folksy decor--border, quilts, armoire, etc.

This may seem counterintuitive, but a dark ceiling strung with lights would give you the industrial feeling you mention. If that seems too radical, then string lights on a flat white ceiling. Paint the walls a creamy white that harmonizes with existing rug.

Here's the palette a couple others suggested: existing brown couches because they're comfy, current beige Berber-ish carpeting with black/brown and white pillows, a black/brown and white geometric patterned rug overlayed over tan carpeting, some floor lamps for soft down lights. Add a great looking coffee table that can take some abuse. Get nicely framed graphic art posters or poster of your kids' sports/music groups.

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Think about setting up zones with TV in one area, and treadmill/weights set off. I like this raw wood "counter" and stools behind the couch. This could easily be put together with a wood slab cut to size and metal legs you can order online.

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These ideas are totally fantastic!  I never would have thought of them.  THANK YOU!!  You saved me from a lot of mistakes.

@housegal200 is spot on!

also show us the whole space back and front, and both sides.

you could do a faux brick wall too, and paint it white washed or leave it that would add to the look, I really want the tv to go in a better spot.

Will you do a quick floorplan? Looks like you have one sofa for the tv, a treadmill, and another sofa with a trampoline in front of it? Please tell me you don’t have a trampoline down there!😂. You want to put the sofas too for watching tv, and make a separate area for the exercise equipment. And stuff will get spilled, so make sure whatever finishes and materials you bring into the room are easy to clean. Teens ask for forgiveness, not permission. 🙂🍾🎉

The ceiling is low but not that low, some basements we did the doors only had room for casing at the ceiling.

Like others suggested get rid of that border, use white ceiling paint, etc with a little facelift it will look real nice.

Here are some new pictures as requested that give a fuller picture of the room. The bookshelves are IKEA and can be moved around.

Ask your kids what they would like and try to incorporate some of their wishes. I had a blast redoing my bedroom when I was around 12 with my parents buy-in. I love the idea of strung lights on the ceiling. Before you know it, your tweens will want some "mood" lighting I'm sure.

Love the ideas so far! I agree that dark walls and/or ceiling can create a fun vibe for teens - a few other things we did for our basement -

- We got an Alexa and put wifi bulbs in the lamps so the kids can change the color of the lighting

(blue, purple, pink etc) they really have fun with that lol

- We got an inexpensive fridge off Facebook marketplace and loaded it with drinks

- Bought an inexpensive oak table and chairs off Facebook Marketplace and sprayed then black and our boys use it for cards, eating snacks and takeout - the table gets TONS of use and I paid $25 for it

- A big ottoman will make the couches super loungey and comfy

- Big TV natch 😅

To sum up:

--Remove: armoire, wood wall panel next to armoire, trampoline, fake plant, quilt frame and quilts, current sofa pillows, and "message" signs, remove wallpaper border. Going forward, great posters your kids pick out will supply interest and color.

--Paint ceiling white or black and string it up with lights. Paint walls warm white that harmonizes with existing carpeting. Go to target and find a cool floor lamp or two for soft lighting.

--Move TV to armoire wall once that wall is cleared out.

--Move treadmill to bookcase corner to face new TV wall.

--Float one couch to face TV and the other to form an "L" like a sectional if it can fit. If not, Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace second couch. Replace with two orange leather swivel arm chairs place on each side of coffee table and floating sofa. If ther. e's space, build a raw wood "bar" up against back of floating couch and tuck a couple counter stools underneath. But don't stuff the room. The reason the ceiling feels low is that the room is packed with too much stuff!

--Get a black and white/beige or brown and white/beige indoor outdoor runner to create a pathway through the space. Seatlle MCM has a great type of pattern to look for.

P.S. RL Location's idea is a good one, too, putting TV on wall and L shaped couch arrangement, round table, right near staircase.

Yes move the book cases to either side of the window, add curtains hanging the rod as high as you can. float the sofa facing the long back wall. Id pull it back a bit further than you have the love seat now. put the love seat in front of said bookcase, add some ottomans for feet and more seating,

Thank you for the picture.  Super helpful!  I like the idea for the drapes and bookcases!

Things that could be fun for them like a pool table it could be one of those tables that you flip over and there's foosball or something on the other side

I had trigger finger I wanted to also add that if they're going to eat down there you'll need a table with chairs and I don't know if you're having some other kind of games the treadmill and would be nice in that little trampoline but long as they don't bang into the ceiling or maybe not the trampoline your ceilings look higher than 7 ft to me my basement ceiling is like 7 ft my my upstairs ceiling runs 10 to 12 foot

Are those books actually being read? Might be time to go through them, save the best ones and donate the rest. You may then be able to scale down the bookcases. They are very large and possibly you can better utilize the space they take up. I have a couple boxes of books for the grandkids, and a couple boxes of books I saved, but getting rid of my big bookcase was a nice overall improvement in my rec room.

Interesting thought on the books. You'll probably laugh, but that is pared down! I got rid of boxes of "won't read again" books. But your point is good. It probably needs another go through.

We had a really big collection and pared it way down to the amount that could fit into one of your Ikea bookcases. The only things we have left are art books and anything sentimental. Switching to kindle has really helped (and they're so much more comfortable and travel friendly). You can borrow e-books from the library easily. I find that when it comes to re-reading favorites, many don't have a long waitlist since they're not new releases.

If you have some sentimental kids books that aren't being used anymore, they could be put into storage.

Very sensible advice. Thank you!

. Popcorn , ,

Movie nite theme with black and white vertical stripes on walls, red mini fridge, poufs and beanbags for floor, Movie posters on walls and of course a popcorn maker/machine. My kid's at that age liked the retro Movie theater in town

How about a large window frame - multipaned with mirrors or a trompe l’oeuil of a long distance landscape scene (depending on the kids’ interests ski mountains or ocean view) to give the illusion of being not so enclosed?

Perhaps it is just my computer screen, but the ceiling currently appears to be painted with a gloss paint, causing reflections. I think this adds to the low ceiling effect. Flat paint would be best, I think.

Paint the ceiling flat black. Black will make the ceiling disappear. Have fun!!

Can't really comment on the layout of the room without a floorplan with dimensions showing any entry, doors and windows, but the following shows that, yes, you can be daring with a low ceiling painted charcoal with white wall, doors, and woodwork. With more details, I would be able to show more on the layout and finalizing the decor with accessories.

The rug shown is by Ruggable (goes in washer/dryer). The tracklights should be turned and aligned to run with the room...

I wouldn't do white walls in a windowless space. It looks drab instead of fresh with no natural light. Definitely getting rid of the wall paper border will make your walls feel taller and ceiling higher.

What about camel-saddles + samovars the NN

Love the popcorn idea.  How fun!

Not to rain on that parade, but I think a movie popcorn machine seems like one of those things that's cute in theory, but ultimately a regret. I wouldn't want to clean and maintain an entire machine just for that. from what I read, you need to clean it every time so the oils don't build up and grow sticky, or be ok with a hazy looking glass box that will make your basement smell like old popcorn oil. you can avoid all that by just cooking it stovetop in the kitchen with the vent hood on, and you can just stick that pot in the dishwasher when you're done.